The MD orders levothyroxine 0.3 mg p.o. daily @ 0600.

How many tablets will the nurse administer? (Use LABEL #3 - LEVOXYL; LABEL CORRECTLY TO RECEIVE CREDIT) . . .

Choice A rationale

Asking "Have you ever experienced this problem before?" elicits historical information about the symptom, which is valuable for understanding the pattern and potential causes of the current complaint. However, it does not directly prompt the patient to articulate their primary reason for seeking medical attention in the present moment.

Choice B rationale

"What brings you to the hospital today?" is an open-ended question that encourages the patient to describe, in their own words, their primary concern or reason for seeking medical care. This allows the healthcare provider to identify the chief complaint directly and without leading the patient toward specific symptoms.

Choice C rationale

"Did your doctor tell you to come to the hospital?" focuses on the referral source rather than the patient's subjective experience of their symptoms. While knowing the referral context can be helpful, it does not directly address the patient's current health concerns or the specific problem they are experiencing.

Choice D rationale

"How long have you been having chest pain?" is a closed-ended question that assumes the presence of chest pain and focuses on its duration. While important for characterizing a specific symptom, it does not allow for the identification of the patient's overall chief complaint, which might be broader than just chest pain.

Choice A rationale

Lymphadenopathy refers to enlarged lymph nodes, which are palpable structures of the immune system. Bruits are vascular sounds, specifically turbulent blood flow, and are entirely unrelated to the presence or size of lymph nodes. Lymphadenopathy indicates an immune response or lymphatic system issue, whereas bruits indicate arterial pathology.

Choice B rationale

Hypermetabolic states, such as hyperthyroidism, can increase cardiac output and blood flow velocity, potentially leading to flow murmurs in the heart. However, they do not directly cause bruits in the carotid arteries. Carotid bruits are typically indicative of localized arterial narrowing or disease, not a systemic increase in metabolism.

Choice C rationale

Bruits are audible vascular sounds, often described as a "whooshing" or "swishing" sound, that result from turbulent blood flow through a narrowed or partially occluded artery. In the carotid arteries, a bruit strongly suggests atherosclerotic plaque formation, which reduces the arterial lumen and disrupts the smooth, laminar flow of blood, creating turbulence.

Choice D rationale

Bruits are arterial sounds, reflecting turbulence within arteries. Venous disease primarily involves veins, and while some venous conditions like arteriovenous fistulas can produce continuous murmurs, typical bruits heard over carotid arteries are characteristic of arterial narrowing and compromise, not venous pathology. Venous hums can occur but are distinctly different from arterial bruits.